Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-08-18
HARRIET BEECHER STONE.
Sh Liked TO Write Short Stories When She
Lived in Brunswick. Ne.
Lewiston Journal

OH z LlhSu W hTile SHOTt SlOIIeS W Htu SDp
Lived in Brunswick, Ne.
Lewiston Journal
The residence of Harriet Beecher Stowe
is house low, irregular and old-fashion-
ed, without being tumbleddown The
walks look not as if made to walk on, but
by walking on; the trees bother one a.
bove low height, the grounds look as if the
lawn-mower were considered nuisance,
and it was thought that flowers throve
best when let alone-which liz deed, would
seem to be the case, for so great profu-
sion neither of the others can boast. The
style of the interior is neither literary,
religious, artistic nor rural but a peculiar
combination of all four, which is family
trait.
Prominent in the study, in niche be-
tween two windows, stands a picture of
Henry Ward Beecher, so large, so strong,
so lifel1ke that it seems as if he were the
host, standing ready to entertain the
guests of his dear old sister, who adored
him. Many fine paintings cover the
walls. of a selni-religious cast, and by the
old masters. Her book shelves are ranged
in the walls, not hanging outside them or
In cases, and flowers in the greatest pro-
fusion fill every nook and corner. Blue
pervades the furnishing; the Venus de
Milo, the Madonna and child, and the
Duke and Duchess of Argyll, Keep each
other mute company through the long I'M
broken stiffness which bespeak the fire.
quent abscenes of the gentle hostess,
for she is a great outdoor woman, and
may be seen taking her walk step by step
through the trees these beautiful June
mornings, her plain black dress covered
with dandelion down, her hands filled
with flowers, and her thin, dark face,
Drowned by constant exposure, framed in
loose gray locks and black bonnet,
neither peaceful nor troubled but waiting
The dim gray eyes light up in CONVEX
sation, however, and some sparks come
from between the pale lips now and again,
that impress one with what must have
been. Her manners have a more kindly
than courteous air, and are tinted with
the grace of mode IN as we'll as old
time customs. Her hearing is wonder
fully acute, and her intelligence glides
along SIDE by side with that of her guests
whom she receives with the air of an old
traveller hailing young one from some
foreign part-neither curious nor inter
ested, but forbearing.
Eyes, my dear, loved to write. and
began very young. 1 especially liked
writing short stories when I lived in
Brunswick, Me. For these I used to
get SIS, $50, $25-good pay in those
times. never thought of writing book
when commenced TTpcle Toms Cabin
L became first rouse on thu subjebt Of
slavery when I lived in Cincinnati and
used to see escaping slaves come over
the Ohio from Kentucky. All, me! it
thrills me even now, the sight of those
poor creatures. Now young girl, sug-
costing the lover, parent or brother for
whom her heart was breaking in bondage;
again the strong husband, aged father
and stalwart brother. Oh, must write
a story to stop the dreadful shame! I
kept putting it off, dreading bringing
the characters to life, till the fugitive
slave law dashed me into fury, and I COM
menced what meant to be a short story
like the others. But it grew, and grew
and grew, and grew, and came, and came,
and came. [ wrote, and wrote, and wrote
and thought l never should stop. I did
not plan the book as it turned out. /
was only full of wrath, and the story built
itself as l wrote.
publisher was waiting story from
me [ told him the subject 1 had undertak-
Gu. He wrote, saying, You have struck
popular topic; for heavens sake keep
it shortF wrote in reply, I shall stop
when [ get through, not before, He
never got it for had to make book of
it. While writing it I was filled with an
enthusiasm which transf1sed my being,
knew no h1ndrance, no rival interest, no
relief out in writing it. I had young
children, was keeping house and teaching
school at the time, and never worked SO
hard, but had to write. Dinner had to be
got, [ knew. This had to be written, just
as much-aye, and more too! It was as
though it was written through me, only
holding the pen. I was lifted off my
feet Satisfied? 1 never thought of
being satisfied. When it was done it was
finished and relief came. I never felt
the same with anything 1 afterwards
wrote. 'Dred?' All! yes: it was on slavery
too, but it was different. 'Poganic Peo-
ple' interested me deeply. I grew to
have deep sympathy for little girls
at an age and of a disposition to be mis-
understood and i'll treated. Dolly is a
fac -simile of myself as child. I wrote
it to help other children.
"After thot wrote for money, believe
[ had felt the need and now tasted the
good Of it, and l wrote on for more of it,
with more or less interest or excitement.
MY Wife and T. and 'We and Our Neigh
bors' should be read toge Their; then The
Minister'S Wooing,' Min Gordon The
Pearl of Orr's Island'-that is not good
but there are none of them like Uncle
Tom and Little Eva. Poor old Uncle
Tom. All, SO many and so long ago!"
Here the gray eyes d rop the light out
of them, the thin brown hands wander to
the white locks, and those knowing the
dear old lady well know that soon they
will be asked to excuse her while she lies
down "to rest little while"